Material-handling apparatus



y 19240 8.1.1. GILLESPIE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Shawl lum@ 7 E24.

S. J. GILLESFIE MATERIAL v HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March e, 1922 s sheets-snm@ 2 QS mueZJGL'Z 6,

S. J. GlLLESPlE MATER IAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March .6, 1922 5 Sheets-Shen# 5 Patented .lune 1.7, i924.

tenaz SAMUEL J. GILLESPIE. 0F TACOM, WSHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN A. SAUERMAN,

0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MATERIAL-HANDLNG APPARATUS.

Application led March 6, 1922. Serial No. 541,265.

To (1.7/ 114mm Iit may concern.'

Be it known that I. SAMUEL J. GiLLnsrm, a citizen of the llnited States, residing at Tacoma. in the county of Pierce and State of lVashington, have invented a new :and useful Improvement in Material-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, more particularly, to apparatus yfor use in excavating or grading work, where it is desired that material, such as earth, be removed from one location to another', though the invention is not limited to such use.

My primary purpose is to provide apparatus of the general character above stated which may be used not only for vcarrying material, in suspended condition, from one place to another, but also may be used for dragging the material to the desired point of deposit; or in other words to provide an apparatus ai'ordn' in a single structure, a bucket which may be moved into the material to till it and byV which'the material mayy be carried to the. point of deposit, such strueture involving a bottom plate; and a bot tomless scraper structure which may be dragged over vthe material to` be displaced and operating to move the material without suspendingT it. Another-object of my invention is to provide a simple, relativelyv inexpensive and positively operating apparatus involving the bucket and scraper features, and to eliminate the necessity of providing separate buckets and Scrapers; and other objects as will be manifest from the followmg description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a view in elevation of a material handling apparatus involving my invention, and showing one of the forms in which it may be embodied and one of the uses to which it may be placed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the combined bucket and scraper element ofthe apparatus this element heilig shown in the position it assumes When being used as a scraper. Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 2 and of the structure therein shown' illustrating the structure in inverted position in which it operates as a bucket. `Figui-e4: is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 showing` the` combined bucket and scraper so positioned as to cause it to operateV as a scraper; and Figure 5 a View of the strucit to operate as a bucket.

ture shown in Fig. 4 illustrating the combined bucket and scraper positioned to cause As a premise to the following description, it may be stated that as to the broader idea vof my invention, it relates to the combined bucket and scraper regardless of the particular means employed in connection therewith for operating it, the particular means shown for this purpose merely being by way of example.

Generally stated, and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention. the combined bucket and scraper device is so formed that when iu one position it will operate as a bucket which. in being dragged into the material to be displaced, will be come charged'with the material and which will permit of the carrying thereby of the material to the point of deposit; and when inverted, will operate as a substantially bottomless scraper which, in being dragged` against the ymaterial to be displaced. will receive a charge of the material and drag ,it over the material beneath it to the place of deposit.

The illustrated construction of combined bucket and scraper referred to comprises opposed side walls 6 extending` preferably. in substantially parallel relation, an end wall 7 shown as, and preferably, of curved shape connected at its extremities with the side walls 6, and a bottom portion 8 connected at its sides with the side walls 6 and the curved end Wall 7. The bottom portion 8 preferably extends almost the entire length ofv the side walls 6 and at its forward extremity presents teeth 10 as is usual in bucket structures for enhancing the digging effect. The portion of the structure oppositethat closed by the bottom portion 8 is open as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the forward edge of the end wall 7, opposite the e( re 9 of this end wall, being preferably formed with forwardly extending teeth 11 shown as carried by a plate 12 connected with the end wall 7. rlhe structure also comprises a bail 13, the arms 14 of whichl are pivotally connected at their ends. as

represented at '15, to the forward extremities of the side Walls 6, adapting this bail to be swung on the side walls 6 to permit it to be positioned in an upwardly extendingdirection regardless of the position occupiedy in Fig. -2 it will serve as asubstantially bot tomless scraper operating, when dragged. over the material *tov be displaced,fto fdig,y into the material and become charged. there# with, the materiahin themovement ofthe structure over the material, piling up into the interior of the structure and against the' portion 8, which, in `this position of the structure is at th'e top of the latter, and operating to lift the structure suiiiciently to prevent further digging, the structure with its load, inthe continued movement of the structure over the material, sliding over the latter, the load being released from the scraper by dragging the latter in a reverse direction or by lifting the scraper. It will also be understood that whenthe combined bucket and scraper structure is inverted into vthe position shown in Fig. 3, it will serve,

when dragged into the material to be displaced, toengage the material and become charged therewith in the manner common with scraper buckets as commonly provided, the .portion 8, in this position of the structure, being at the bottom of the structure `and serving, in combination with the side walls and end of the structure, to retain therein the material charged into it as stated, adapting its load to be carried, in a suspended condition of the combined bucket and scraper structure, if desired, to the point of deposit, the load to be discharged from the structure in accordance with common practice.

In the drawings I have shown my combined bucket and scraper ,structure as formingan element of material-moving apparatus of the same general character as that shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 998,789, granted to P. Mayer, July 29, 1911, this apparatus involving a mast 2O supported at a point vbeyond the material to be displaced and the place of discharge thereof. The mast connects at its upper end with one end of a slack-line cable-way 21, the other, lower end ofwhich is anchored at 22 in the ground beyond the point at which the material to be displaced is located. 'The slackline cable has inter osed therein tauting means 23 shown as ihrmed of two pulleys 24 and 25, the cable 21 being connected with the pulley 24, and a tension cable 26 connected with these pulleys in accordance with common practice and leading'to a windlass 27 by the operation of which latter the cable `the cable 21, the combine 21 may be slackened and made taut, at will, as desired. i

The apparatus also comprises a carriage 28 formed of a frame 29 provided With peripherally grooved wheels 30 journalled- 'and connects at one end with a swivel 34 pivoted on a cross-pin carried by the bail 13, and at its other endwith a swivel 436 pivoted at 37 on the eye 19. A cable 38 connects at one end with the swivel 36, extends over the pulley 31 and over a pulley 39 journalled in a pull-block 40 and thence upwardly where it is connected with a roller-block 41 rollingly supported on the cable 21 and adapted to co-operate with a stop-block 42 rigidly connected with the cable 21. The vapparatus also involves a hauling element shown as formed of a cable 43 connectedat one end With the pull-block and at its' opposite end Vwith a windlass 44, this cable extendingfover a pulley 45 secured to the mast20; the Vpull-block40; a cable 46 connected at its forward endlwith the pull-block 40;-and branch cables'47 and 48, the latter being a bridle-cable, connected' 1 at their forward ends to the rear end of the cable 46and at their rear ends with the swivel 34 and with clevises 49, respectively, located at. opposite sides of thecombined bucket and scraper and secured thereto at certain of the openings.16,.17` and 18 asV hereinbefore referred to.'

Assuming the combined bucket and scraper to bepositioned to operate as a scraper, as hereinbefore referred to (Figures 1, 2 and 4), the combined bucket and scraper is pulled over the material to be displaced,

by winding up the cable 43 on the wmdlass l 44, the cable 21 being slackened suiiiciently to permit the combined bucket and scraper to engage thematerial to be displaced, and Where necessary, yor desirable, to supplement the Weight of the combined bucket and scraper by the addition of further Weight thereto, in order that it will dig into the material'to the desired extent, the cable 21 may be slackened sufficiently to permit the carriage 28 to rest upon the portion 8 of the structure. Where the cable-way 21 is inclined as shown, the load is released from the combined bucket and scra er by tauting bucket and scraper being returned to a position preliminary to again operating it to displace more material, by paying-out the. cable 43, the carriage and the structure supported thereby gravitating on the cable 21. AIt will, of

course, be understood that if desired, means such as a cab/1e (not shown) attached to the rear end of the combined bucket and scraper, may be provided for dragging the latter tothe desired position preliminary to the operation of again charging it with material.

Assuming that it is desired to operate the apparatus for the digging and carrying of material, the combined bucket and scraper would be inverted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the bail 13 would be swung thereon to eX- tend upwardly as shown in Fig. 3, and the position of the clevises 49 would be changed from that shown in Fig. 4 wherein they eX- tend through the openings 16 to the position shown in Fig. wherein they extend through the openings 18. The combinedbucket and scraper is charged with a load of the material to-be displaced by hauling on the line 43, the cable 21 being preliminarily slackened, if conditions require, and after the load is. received the line l21 is tauted to lift the combined bucket and scraper clear of the material, and the earzriage 28,'with the parts carried thereby, drawn upwardly on the cable 21 to dumping position. The block 42 is positioned adjacent the point at which dumping is to take place, and as soon as the roller-block 41 engages the block 42, the pull on the cable 43 being continued, the cable 38 is caused to travel to the right in Fig. 5 at a greater speed than the cable 46, with the result of tilting the combined bucket and scraper in a direction to discharge its load, the carriage 48 and the parts associated therewith, as stated. running down the cableway 21 and the combined bucket and scraper automatically swinging to the position shown in Fig. 5, upon slackening the hauling line 43.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the use of separate buckets and scrapers are not required to be provided, inasmuch as the one device is so constructed that it is adapted to perform the functions of both of such devices, and an apparatus suitable for both purposes may be provided not only more economically than apparatus has hitherto been provided, but ma be quickly conditioned for performing t 1e different kinds otwor'k referred to.

WhileI have illustrated and described myl invention as employed in a system involving a slack-line cable-way with co-operating parts ot' a certain construction, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it, thereto, as the invention ma be employed, as regards the use of the buc ret and scraper features, not only in other constructions involving a slack-line cable-way, but also with any other suitable supporting means, such, for example, as a boom arrangement, or a rigid track-way upon which the carriage, and the parts carried thereby, are supported and movable; and as a scraper may be used when no support is possible. In connection with the use of a rigid track-way it may be stated that, under some conditions, material to be displaced is so positioned that the apparatus may function as a scraper withoutl requiring the elevating of the scraper to fully discharge its load, in which case it will not be necessary to raise the combined bucket and scraper to discharge the load.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined self-filling bucket and substantially bottomless scraper comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate eX- tending across its top side, said plate having a digging portion 4at its forward end and said body presenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bottomless scraper and when inverted operates as a self-i1ling bucket.

2. A combined self-Iilling bucket andl substantially bottomless scraper comprising a hollow body presenting digging portions at its top and lower sides, one of said digging portions being in advance of the other thereof, for the purpose set forth.

3. A combined self-tilling bucket and substantially bottomless scraper comprising side walls spaced apart, an end wall of curved shape in cross-section, with its con cave surface at the inside of said structure, and a bottom portion opposing the opening at the opposite side of the structure, the forward edges of said end Wall and bottom portion presenting digging portions, whereby in one position of the structure it operates as a self-filling bucket and when inverted operates as a substantially bottomless scraper.

4. A material-handling struc-ture comprisingvside-walls spaced apart, an end Wall and a bottom portion, the forward edges of said end wall and bottom portion presenting digging portions, and the said parts being so constructed and arranged that when the structure is in one position it operates as a bucket-and when inverted it operates asa substantially bottomless scraper.

5. A combined self-filling bucket and suby stantially bottomless scraper comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate eX-' tending across its top side, said plate havin a digging portion at its forward end an said body resenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bottomless scraper and when inverted operates as a self-filling bucket, said body being provided with a bail for attachment thereto of a supporting element constructed and ar ranged to be positioned to extend u wardly in the different ositions of said bo y.

6. A combine self-filling bucket and substantially bottomless scraper comprising a i body open at its lowerl side, with a plate extending across its top side, said plate having a digging portion at its forward end and said body presenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bottomless scraper and when inverted operates as aself-iilling bucket, said 'body having a bail pivoted thereon for attachment 'of the bail to a supporting element, for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with a supporting structure a combined self-filling bucket, and

substantially bottomless scraper supported thereon and comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate extending across its top side, said plate having a digging portion at'its forward end `and said body presenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body itA operates as a substantially bottomless scraper and when inverted operates as a self-filling bucket.

8. A combined self-filling bucket and substantially bottomless scraper comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate extending across its top side, said plate hav- ,ing a digging portion at its forward end and said body resenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bo'ttomless scraper, and when inverted operates as'a self-iilling bucket, said body being provided with a body-supporting bail adapted to be swung on said body across the front end of the latter to extend upwardly .in

either position of said body, and a supporting structure for said body comprising connections witlrsaid body at said bail at one end and with the rear end of said bodv, adaptingv the latter to be turned over side ways without disturbing said connections.

9. A combined selfr-filling bucket and substantially bottomless scraper comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate eX- tending across its top side, said plate having a digging portion at its forward end and said-body presenting a digging portion at v its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bottomless scraper and when inverted operates as a self-filling bucket, said body being provided with a body-supporting bail adapted to be swung on said body across the front end of the latter to extend upwardly in either position of said body, and a supporting structure for said body comprising connections with said body at said bail at one end and with the rear end of said body, said connections involving swivels adapting said body to be turned over sideways without disturbing said connections.

10. A combined self-filling bucket and substantially bottomlessscraper comprising a body open at its lower side, with a plate extending across its top side, said plate having a digging portion at its forward end and said body presenting a digging portion at its lower side, whereby in one position of said body it operates as a substantially bottomless scraper, and when inverted operates as a self-filling bucket, said body beino' provided with a body-supporting bail adapted to be swung on said body across the front end of the latter to extend upwardly in either position of said body, and a support- 

